The human rights lawyers who represented George Floyd will lobby the United Nations to address the racist treatment of Black refugees at Ukraine ’s borders.
Jasmine Rand and Ben Crump led a virtual news conference to reveal a coalition will fight for the rights of hundreds of men, women and children denied the chance to flee the killing - some at gunpoint - by border guards.
It includes Jamaican MP G. Anthony Hylton, solicitor Jacqueline McKenzie, Peter Herbert, one of the Uk’s first black judges and Carlos More, President of the National Bar Association in the US.
The appeal follows the intervention of the Nigerian and Jamaican Foreign Ministries last weekend to provide assistance to their citizens who were prevented from boarding trains while white women, children, men and even pets were allowed to leave Ukraine.
Harrowing video evidence has shown some Black and Brown refugees being subjected to violence as well as segregation.
South Asian refugees, Latina students and Sikhs have also been denied the chance to escape with priority given to white Ukrainians.
Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari said earlier this week: “All who flee a conflict situation have the same right to safe passage under UN convention and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference.
“From video evidence, first-hand reports and from those in contact with Nigerian consular officials, there have been unfortunate reports of Ukrainian police and security personnel refusing to allow Nigerians to board buses and trains heading towards the Ukraine-Poland border.”
F1 star Lewis Hamilton is also among a number of big names to lend their support, sharing details of how to help Black students caught up in the crisis on Instagram.
And the BeyGood charity, run by American superstar Beyonce, tweeted earlier this week: “We are saddened by the news of African and other International students being denied at the border as they attempt to leave Ukraine.
“We are hopeful that the various embassies could swiftly rectify the situation to help those in need of support.”
